U.S. patent number 7,895,782 [Application Number 11/514,095] was granted by the patent office on 2011-03-01 for light box display apparatus configured for frontal access.
Invention is credited to Richard C. Farrell.
United States Patent |
7,895,782 |
Farrell |
March 1, 2011 |
Light box display apparatus configured for frontal access
Abstract
A light box display configured for frontal access to change out
graphics and to perform maintenance tasks. This is accomplished in
the present invention while assuring that the graphics is held in a
state of moderate tension to retain the graphics in a flat and
properly oriented configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the
light box comprises a moveable interior frame to which the graphics
sheet and diffuser are both secured. The moveable interior frame
rests on a plurality of upper and lower slides which facilitate
movement of the inner frame. Such movement is controlled, in part,
by at least one pneumatic piston which biases the frame toward the
front of the light box and provides a mechanical lock that holds
the frame in its rearward position to facilitate frontal access.
The graphics sheet is held in place along the top and bottom front
peripheral edges of the moveable frame by a plurality of
spring-biased wire connection members within roller guides. One end
of each wire member is attached to the rear peripheral surface of
the moveable inner frame and the other end is threaded through a
grommeted hole along the outer edge of the graphics sheet. Side
spring-biased wire connection members are also provided.
Inventors: |
Farrell; Richard C. (Newport
Beach, CA) |
Family
ID: |
39462241 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/514,095 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080120877 A1 |
May 29, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
40/575; 40/603;
40/604 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
13/04 (20130101); G09F 15/0025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
13/04 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;160/329,368.1,378,389,390,404 ;40/575,603,604,611.11,792,794 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Davis; Cassandra
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Tachner; Leonard
Claims
I claim:
1. A light box display apparatus having a housing forming an open
front area within an outer frame defined by a back, a top, a bottom
and opposed sides, the apparatus holding a fungible graphics sheet
in front of a source of diffused light for observation through the
open front area; the apparatus comprising: a moveable inner frame
within said housing, said inner frame being selectably moved along
guide rails positioned between said open front area and said back;
and a plurality of spring-biased connection members, each such
member having an end secured to said inner frame and an end
releasibly secured to said graphics sheet for subjecting said sheet
to tension when said inner frame is moved toward said open front
area and releasing said tension when said inner frame is moved
toward said back.
2. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said
spring-biased connection members are located at spaced intervals
along inner surfaces of said top and bottom for applying said
tension upwardly and downwardly along said graphics sheet.
3. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 1 further
comprising at least one additional spring-biased connection member
connected to said graphics sheet along an inner surface of each of
said opposed sides and a latch connected to each said at least one
additional spring-biased connection member and affixed to said
outer frame for selectably applying tension to a respective side
edge of said graphics sheet.
4. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 1 further
comprising at least one pneumatic piston connected to said inner
frame for controlling movement of said inner frame along said guide
rails.
5. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein said
pneumatic piston comprises a mechanical lock for affixing said
inner frame at a selected position along said guide rails.
6. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said
graphics sheet comprises a plurality of grommeted holes for
receiving said releasibly secured ends of said spring-biased
connection members.
7. A light box display apparatus providing a frontal opening for
access to a graphics sheet for replacement thereof, the apparatus
having a housing forming an outer frame having an interior for
receiving the graphics sheet and a diffused light source for
transmitting light through the graphics sheet and the frontal
opening; the apparatus comprising: a translatable inner frame
within said housing interior and moveable toward and away from said
frontal opening; a plurality of spring-biased connection members,
each such member having a first end secured to said inner frame and
a second end releasibly secured to said graphics sheet for applying
tension to said sheet when said inner frame is moved toward said
frontal opening and releasing said tension when said inner frame is
moved away from said frontal opening.
8. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein said
spring-biased connection members are positioned along upper and
lower interior surfaces of said outer frame.
9. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 7 further
comprising said spring-biased connection members positioned along
side interior surfaces of said outer frame and connected to said
graphics sheet; and a latch receiving said side spring-biased
connection members for selectably pulling said graphics sheet
toward sides of said outer frame.
10. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 7 and further
comprising at least one pneumatic piston affixed to said inner
frame and to said outer frame for controlling movement of said
inner frame relative to said outer frame.
11. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein
said at least one pneumatic piston comprises a locking device for
locking said inner frame at a selected position relative to said
outer frame.
12. The light box display apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein said
graphics sheet comprises a plurality of grommeted holes for
receiving said second end of each of said spring-biased connection
members.
13. A light box display apparatus comprising: an outer frame having
a frontal opening providing access to the interior of said outer
frame; and an inner frame positioned within said outer frame
interior and moveable toward and away from said frontal opening; a
movement control mechanism for selectably preventing movement of
said inner frame relative to said outer frame after said inner
frame has been moved away from said frontal opening; and a diffused
light source positioned in said outer frame for transmission of
light toward said opening.
14. A light box display apparatus comprising: an outer frame having
a frontal opening providing access to the interior of said outer
frame; and an inner frame positioned within said outer frame
interior and moveable toward and away from said frontal opening; a
graphics sheet releasibly affixed to said inner frame for movement
therewith and a plurality of spring-biased connection members
interconnecting said graphics sheet and said inner frame to apply
increasing surface tension to said graphics sheet as said inner
frame is moved toward said frontal opening; and a diffused light
source positioned in said outer frame for transmission of light
toward said opening.
15. A light box display apparatus comprising: an outer frame having
a frontal opening providing access to the interior of said outer
frame; and an inner frame positioned within said outer frame
interior and moveable toward and away from said frontal opening; a
graphics sheet releasably affixed to said inner frame for movement
therewith and a plurality of spring-biased connection members
interconnecting said graphics sheet and said inner frame to apply
increasing surface tension to said graphics sheet as said inner
frame is moved toward said frontal opening; and wherein said
graphics sheet comprises a plurality of grommeted holes for
receiving said spring-biased connection members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of light box
displays of the type used to present advertising comprising a
replaceable graphics sheet positioned in front of a diffused light
source. The invention pertains more specifically to such a light
box uniquely configured to provide access only from the front of
the display such as for changing the graphics or performing
maintenance on the light box.
2. Background Art
Light boxes of the type disclosed herein have been in widespread
use for at least the past forty years. See for example issued U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,390,259 and 3,391,481, both issued in 1968. Typically,
such light boxes provide a rectangular housing having a distributed
light source such as a plurality of spaced fluorescent tubes and a
diffusing transparent or translucent surface for spreading the
light evenly across the housing where it exits from a rectangular
opening. Some form of graphics are provided either printed directly
on the diffusing surface or on a flexible graphics sheet which is
placed immediately in front of the diffusing surface.
In recent years, such light box displays have become more common as
advertising systems as opposed to signs. Typically, advertising
light boxes are wall mounted inside retail stores or where there is
a great deal of foot traffic such as in airports, train stations,
indoor malls and the like. Advertising light box displays normally
utilize changeable graphics so that their advertising content can
be modified relatively often. Such graphics are usually provided as
a unitary flexible plastic film vinyl, paper, fabric or other
substrate which has the advertising indicia printed on it and which
is inserted into the light box in contiguous relation to the
diffusing surface in front of the lighting source. The current
trend appears to be to make such advertising light box displays
quite large, such as four to six feet in height and eight to
sixteen feet in length. They're typically four to twelve inches in
thickness or depth. Conventional light box displays are simply
affixed to the exterior surface of a wall. However, given the
considerable cost of retail space, there is a growing desire to
install light box displays inside recesses of a wall so that they
don't extend beyond the wall's exterior surface. Such installations
however create problems relating to access to the light box
interior which is necessary to change out graphics and to perform
maintenance such as replacing burned out light bulbs. Such access
is normally gained from the side or rear of the light box or from a
removable front element. However, side or rear access usually
complicates the structure of the light box making it more expensive
to manufacture. More importantly, side or rear access may require
either that the light box be capable of being removed from its
recess (which has significant impact on aesthetics and maintenance
costs) or that some structural modifications be made to the
surrounding wall to allow personnel to gain such access (which
increases construction cost and may require wasteful use of costly
retail space). Moreover, some retailers may wish to provide flush
mounted light box surfaces which are overlapped by adjacent wall
surfaces for aesthetics, thereby making it virtually impossible to
provide front, side or rear access to the light box display.
Not having side or rear access to a flush mounted light box
display, means that one must have frontal access to change the
graphics and perform maintenance tasks. However, with the sheet of
graphics being as large as the light box frontal area and being
mounted flush with the front surface of the light box, it is not
immediately apparent how to gain frontal access to replace the
graphics or perform maintenance tasks. This is the problem that is
addressed by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a
light box display configured for frontal access to change out
graphics and to perform maintenance tasks. This is accomplished in
the present invention while assuring that the graphics is held in a
state of moderate tension to retain the graphics in a flat and
properly oriented configuration.
In the preferred embodiment, the light box comprises a moveable
interior frame to which the graphics sheet and diffuser are both
secured. The moveable interior frame rests on a plurality of upper
and lower slides which facilitate movement of the inner frame. Such
movement is controlled, in part, by at least one pneumatic piston
which biases the frame toward the front of the light box and
provides a mechanical lock that holds the frame in its rearward
position to facilitate frontal access. The graphics sheet is held
in place along the top and bottom front peripheral edges of the
moveable frame by a plurality of spring-biased wire connection
members within roller glides. One end of each wire member is
attached to the rear peripheral surface of the moveable inner frame
and the other end is threaded through a grommeted hole along the
outer edge of the graphics sheet. Side spring-biased wire
connection members are also provided. The side wire members are
interconnected to a common manual latch. This latch is closed to
pull the sides of the graphics sheet taut and opened to release the
sides of the graphics sheet when it is desired to push the moveable
frame back to gain access to the light box interior. In other
respects, the light box is relatively conventional in its operation
in that it has a plurality of spaced apart fluorescent light tubes
located towards the rear interior surface of the light box behind
the moveable frame.
By employing a novel combination of a moveable interior frame,
pneumatic pistons and spring-biased graphics sheet interface
members, the disclosed embodiment provides a light box that is
uniquely accessible from the front while assuring properly
displayed graphics.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention,
as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more
fully understood herein after as a result of a detailed description
of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the
following drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing certain
components partially cut away to reveal the interior of the
preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the preferred embodiment with the
graphics sheet removed and the diffuser sheet partially cut
away;
FIG. 4 is a downwardly directed cross-sectional view of the
invention showing the inner frame moved toward the back of the
apparatus to gain access to the interior;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4 with the
inner frame moved toward the front opening for normal display
operation of the apparatus;
FIG. 6 is a side-directed cross-sectional view showing the front
access condition;
FIG. 7 is a side-directed cross-sectional view showing the normal
display condition;
FIG. 8 is a front view of a connection member and connection guide
of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the connection member and connection
guide;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a portion
of the inner frame in the access condition and a graphics sheet
ready for attachment within the light box display apparatus;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the normal
display condition;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view showing the side connection
members of the invention;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged interior side view of the side connection
member interface;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 14-14
of FIG. 12;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional plan view of the side connection
member/latch interface;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of an inner frame guide rail; and
FIG. 17 is a plan view of the entire light box display apparatus
shown during installation of a graphics sheet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that a
light box display apparatus 10 comprises a housing or outer frame
12 of substantially rectangular shape and forming a large front
opening 15. As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 10
provides a graphics sheet 14 in front of a diffuser sheet 16.
Sheets 14 and 16 fill the entire front opening 15 and reside in
front of a light source comprising a plurality of fluorescent light
bulb tubes 18 which are preferably positioned in a space apart
parallel arrangement adjacent the back interior surface 21 of outer
frame 12.
Referring to FIGS. 3 through 7, it will be seen that the light box
display apparatus 10 also comprises an inner frame 20 which is
located entirely within the outer frame 12 and is almost as long as
the interior of the outer frame and only slightly shorter in
height. The inner frame is oriented to be substantially parallel to
the interior back surface 21 and moveable between the back surface
and the front opening 15. The inner frame 20 moves on a plurality
of guide rails 24 positioned along the top and bottom interior
surfaces of the outer frame 12. Movement of the inner frame 20 is
controlled by a number of pneumatic pistons 22 which are
interconnected between the inner frame 20 and the interior top and
bottom surfaces of the outer frame 12 as shown bets in FIGS. 3, 4
and 5. FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively illustrate rearward and forward
positions of the inner frame 20 within the outer frame 12.
Referring to FIGS. 8 through 11, it will be seen that apparatus 10
also comprises a plurality of spring-biased connection members 25
which are threaded through respective connection guides 26, the
latter having a number of cylindrical rollers 32 for guiding the
connection members 25 from the rear surface of inner frame 20 to
the front thereof. Each such spring-biased connection member 25
includes a spring 27 and a retainer 29. The spring end of each
connection member 25 is connected to the inner frame 20 at a
diffuser bracket 17 which supports the diffuser sheet 16. The
retainer end of the connection member 25 is threaded through a
grommeted hole 13 along the edge portion of graphics sheet 14 as
shown best in FIGS. 10 and 11. Those having skill in the art of
light box displays, will understand from observing FIGS. 8 through
11, that as inner frame is moved away from front opening 15 and
toward interior back surface 21 of outer frame 12, each connection
member 25 becomes slack, thereby permitting retainer 29 to be
released from grommeted hole 13 of graphics sheet 14. This
connection member slacked condition is depicted best in FIG. 10. In
this condition of apparatus 10, personnel may reach through front
opening 15 and release graphics sheet 14 from inner frame 20, such
as for replacement. Personnel may also gain access to fluorescent
bulb tubes 18 and remove any one or more of them from their
respective mating receptacles 19 such as for replacement.
On the other hand, it will be observed that as the inner frame 20
is moved toward the front opening 15, the connection members 25
become taut with the retainer 29 threaded through the grommeted
holes 13 of graphics sheet 14. Thus, the graphics sheet 14 is
subjected to a level of surface tension at various locations along
the upper and lower surfaces of inner frame 20 thereby securing the
graphics sheet in its appropriate position within the light box
display apparatus 10.
Movement of the inner frame 20 along guide rails 24 (see FIG. 16)
is controlled by pistons 22, each of which provides a locking
device 34 which permits personnel to lock the frame 20 along its
path of motion when the frame 20 is closest to interior back
surface 21 (See FIG. 4).
The side edges of the graphics sheet 14 are also held in tension
during normal display operation. As seen best in FIGS. 12 through
15, this is done somewhat differently in that side-connection
members 30 are channeled through a channel bar 36 and respective
connection guides 38 (each having rollers 32) to a manual latch 28
as shown in FIG. 15. Each side-connection member 30 is also
spring-biased and provided with an end retainer to mate with a
grommeted hole in the graphics sheet. However, the side connection
members are not connected to the inner frame 20. It has been
determined that manual latch 28 is the preferred means for
controlling the side-directed tension on the graphics sheet 14 as
opposed to the travel position of the inner frame 20. Therefore,
when it is desired to release the graphics sheet 14 for
replacement, as the inner frame is pushed back toward interior back
surface 21, the latch 28 becomes accessible and is used to release
the side tension after the inner frame is pushed to its fully
rearward position.
FIG. 17 illustrates installation of a new graphics sheet 14 while
latch 28 is opened and inner frame 20 is in its access condition.
Once all of the retainers 29 have been threaded through
corresponding grommeted holes 13, the latch 28 is closed and the
frame 20 is pushed to be flush with the front opening 15.
Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present
invention to enable fabrication and operation of the inventive
light box display apparatus, it will be evident that various
modifications can be readily made. By way of example, the invention
herein can be modified to accept graphics sheets that are placed in
tension in other ways, or that are self-tensioned such as by being
attached at their edges using a beaded edge captured in a
trough-like recess of the margin of the inner frame, or which do
not require tension at all. Such modifications would still benefit
from the inventive feature herein of frontal access by means of a
movable inner frame. Therefore, it will be apparent that the scope
hereof is to be deemed limited only by the appended claims and not
by the illustrative embodiment disclosed herein.
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